Hazel Gumede calls for Dumisani Chauke to coach Proteas

Netball South Africa (NSA), this week, confirmed the Australian, whose tenure ends in December will be replaced by a South African.

And the first black player to represent Gauteng under apartheid believes if Chauke, who has been an assistant in the national set-up since 2016, puts her hand up, she should be given a chance.

"It will depend on her confidence because if you've been an assistant [coach], you end up losing your confidence. So, if ever she's strong and she has the confidence that is needed she can take them up because she's been there with all the good coaches. So, she can," Gumede told SABC Sport

Following the unceremonious dismissal of Dorette Badenhorst, Plummer was re-appointed in November last year, eight months before South Africa hosted the maiden Netball World Cup and finished a disappointing sixth position.

Gumede is perplexed by the NSA's handling of the entire issue, given that Chauke acted as an assistant to both coaches.

"She's leaving the team and I thought maybe they grooming Dorette and Dumisani Chauke. So, it means Dumi will take over. So, who will be assisting her?"

Plummer, who had success in the past with the Proteas, including a 4th place finish at the 2019 Netball World Cup in the UK, arrived in the country only two weeks before the 2023 competition began. And, as Gumede has seen in the past, she believes this demonstrated a lack of regard for the nation.

"I only found out late that Norma Plummer was coaching remotely and I'm thinking, you know we used to have a coach who was part of our team, I was coaching with Elize Kotze but then she was not on the bench. She'll be sitting up at the grandstand and we will have an earpiece. For me, it was an insult to South Africa as a whole, it was like we wanted to qualify her to get the 100 caps or the 150 caps. Why do we have to compromise our own?'

Furthermore, while the Proteas gave a fine account of themselves in Cape Town,

including a historic draw with New Zealand in the group stages, Gumede insists a hands-on coach could’ve taken them farther.

"It is not good enough. Imagine with the standard of play that the girls showed. If ever she [Norma Plummer] was here full time and coaching as she was supposed to, we would have maybe went to semis and the finals."